BioRegional's Vision for a One Planet Olympics continues

25.04.2012

BioRegional's vision for a One Planet Olympics continues to inspire at LOCOG conference

With 94 days until the Games, Sue Riddlestone, BioRegional’s CEO, took the opportunity to pose the first question to a “Question Time” panel at yesterday’s final London 2012 sustainability conference. Referring to the sustainability strategy co-authored by BioRegional and included in the London 2012 bid, she asked: “Has London 2012 lived up to its promise as a One Planet Olympics?

First to answer from the panel, chaired by the BBC’s George Alagiah, was Shaun McCarthy, Chair of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012. He said that he was “very confident” that the majority of the build-phase sustainability objectives had been achieved, and that the targets for staging the Games would be met, and “increasingly confident” that there would be a sustainable legacy. Highlighting renewable energy and the ethical supply chain as the two most challenging areas for London 2012, McCarthy recognised that overall there were more positives than negatives.

David Nussbaum, Chief Executive of WWF-UK, who were partners with BioRegional in developing the sustainability strategy suggested that since its title was “Towards a One Planet Olympics” we should judge it in those terms. In comparison with previous Games it was clear that London 2012 was indeed heading in the right direction, and has completed “part of the journey” towards a One Planet Olympics.

David Stubbs, LOCOG’s Head of Sustainability, suggested that one of London 2012’s biggest achievements was in taking a holistic view of sustainability, instead of the piecemeal approach of previous Games. The One Planet Living principles were the holistic framework embedded into the vision and delivery of the Games, and particularly the legacy. He reminded the audience that many sustainability issues, such as embodied carbon, were not high on the agenda when the bid was written in 2004, but the consequence of having a One Planet Living framework was that the targets were able to evolve within the overall vision, and that the spirit of the original vision had been met by London 2012.

Asked by Alagiah for her response to the panellists answers, Sue Riddlestone welcomed the opportunity to preview London 2012’s pre-Games sustainability report “Delivering Change” at the conference. Sue was pleased that the report, which will be launched on Thursday this week, “highlights some truly great achievements and innovations during the development and at Games time” and she was “proud to have been part of the team that developed a vision for London 2012”.

Sue added “the legacy is off to a flying start with these solid foundations and I am optimistic about the future, especially after the publication of the London Legacy Develop Corporation’s sustainability guide. However, we must continue to work together, as it’s going to need as much commitment and effort to enable One Planet Living in the legacy as it did to achieve what we have on the Games.”

Links:

27.04.2012 update!  London 2012’s pre-Games sustainability report “Delivering Change” is now published.
http://www.london2012.com/news/2012/04/london-2012-sustainability-measures-praised-by-un-enviro.php

London Legacy Development Corporation sustainability strategy
http://www.londonlegacy.co.uk/pioneering-plans-to-set-new-standards-for-sustainable-living/